Main menu

Moulton Castle – Newburyport, Maudslay Park

Mon, 07/12/2010 - 19:56

Growing up working on one of the oldest farms in America (run by the same family since the 1680s), my interest in local history was definitely the cause of some long-winded conversations with some of the old-timers. The farm was located adjacent to Maudslay State Park in Newburyport. In fact, the park itself used to be part of the farm before it was sold off to the Moseley family (Originally spelled Maudesleigh) around the turn of the century (1900s).

One bit of local history that always really interested me was the “Moulton Castle” that used to sit on what is now called “Castle Hill” in Maudslay State Park. To sum up, Henry Moulton was this civil war soldier. After the war, he came back and built a very real castle in Newburyport. I’ve known about it since I was a teenager, but every time I tell someone about it I always get the same response; “Yeah, right. A castle in Newburyport…”

Well, alas I have proof that I can share! A close friend of mine, and son of the farmer I grew up with, just gave me what may be the “only” remaining copy of this:

It’s a poem by Charles Clinton Jones about the castle. It must have been written and printed after the castle came down, but other than that I know nothing about it. I’ve looked online for years, trying to find some sort of documentation on the castle. Literally, you’d think I was searching for the lost ark. No one seems to know it ever existed. How has something this incredible just vanished in history. I mean come on, a castle in Newburyport!!

Here is the rest of the booklet:

One of the few pictures that exist of the actual Moulton Castle (I’ve seen at least two):

The poem by Charles Clinton Jones:

Moulton CastleBy Charles Clinton Jones.

It stood on a pine fringed hill-topO’er looking the ancient town,And the winding course of the river;That turreted castle brown.

For more than a generationIt guarded the country-side,The city and bay and islands,And the marshes low and wide.

Grimly it stood looking seaward,And when the day died out of the sky,It saw in the gathering darknessPlum Island’s twinkling eye.

A little more to the northwardBurning the night like coals,Yellow and red alternateThe changing lights of the Shoals.

Full many a sailor scanningThe land with his searching glass,Has seen along the horizonThat turreted hill-top pass.

And many a traveler turningHis face toward home again,Wearied with traffic and travelIn the busy haunts of men,

Rejoiced to see in the distanceThose towers ‘bove the tree-tops rise,Clear cut in the their somber beauty‘Gainst the background of the skies.

And often in drive and ramble,As we cast our eyes around,A view of the brown old castle,To our great delight we found.

When the two old bald-headed eaglesReturn to their haunts in the spring,At sight of if its rugged outline,They quickened the eager wing.

And many a flock of swallowsIn nests ‘neath the sheltering eaves,Have gendered their broods of younglings,And flown again with the leaves.

But now it is gone, and the hill-topIs bare as the Tyrian stone,While o’er it the breezes murmur,And the night winds make their moan.

The sheltering pines about itTheir dark green branches toss,Chanting a dirge-like anthemFor their own and the country’s loss.

The sailor and homebound travelerWill scan the horizon well,But never a sign will greet themOf its ancient sight to tell.

The birds in the their springtime coming,And their southward flight in the fall,Will look in vain for its turrets,And its brown expanse of wall.

And tho’ a far grander mansionShall take its place on the hill,The picture of the Moutlon CastleWill remain in memory still.

The back page with printer’s mark: C.S. Morse Printer

Just the back cover:

As of today, there is only an impression in the ground where the castle once was. I’ve had a coffee on the big stone front steps that are all that remain. If you look around the top of castle hill you will find them.

Other things about the castle:

The chandelier from the front hall is hanging in my friends house

There was a well with a miniature replica of the castle on the roof. It vanished when the castle was taken down. I’ve been looking for it since I was like 15

After the war, for years Henry Moulton would send a ship into Boston to gather the men who fought with him. The would camp on the front lawn of the castle and celebrate for a couple weeks. From what I’ve been told by the family, they would fire off their guns and a canon while they party. I’ve even used a metal detector in “Bootleggers Field” and pulled out some musket balls. Cool stuff

Update:Huge thanks to Connie Day for finding a link to the book “Moulton Annals“. Here is an image from it:

Great picture. I can see just where it was taken, and will probably go there soon and take a picture of what it looks like now.

I actually live about 30 minutes from the estate and didn’t realize there was a castle with my last name there! A friend of mine that’s going to an event that I’m planning at the estates gave me a heads up on the castle. So I’m very intrigued, sharing the name and all, It would be awesome to find out if I’m somehow related. ^.^ I’ll have to look into it, but by chance is there somewhere where I could read the poem and see the picture a bit better? That would be so awesome.
My father has come to learn that the woman who had last been living there, was kind of odd. She didn’t want people to know about her home life or something, to the point where in her will, she asked that the buildings be torn down, but she also wanted the estate to be kept up by the state. So after the buildings where taken down, the state turned it into a park it seems.

Sure, I’ll post the poem when I get a sec. I also have some more castle images that I will scan and post at higher resolution.
I’m great friends with the family that built it (formerly Moulton). Having an interest in local history, I used to talk at great lengths about the castle, and Maudslay in general. There is so much to see in there that no one seems to really know about. Cool stuff!

There are pictures of the castle in the book “Moulton Annals” written by Henry Moulton and completed by his daughter. There is a copy of the book at the Newburyport Historical Society. The book talks at length about the castle and grounds.
Bill Moulton

Great find!!
I love Maudslay! Live only a few minutes away and I take my children there all the time. I would love to know about the old foundations. I have been looking on the web and haven’t found much information at all. I know they have a tour in the summer..which I will def check out. But I’m so curious now….and wondering if anyone knows some website with info??
Thanks!!:)

I grew up just down the street in Sandy Acres across from Mosely Pines. The Mosely Estate was literally our back yard. We used to slide down Castle Hill in the winter. I went to school with Dick Chase of Arrowhead Farms on Ferry Road near the base of Castle Hill. He is a descendant of The Moultons. And as you’ve stated they owned much of the Mosely Estate at one time. My grandfather told me that the castle was raised due to back taxes. And you’re right, there’s not much information on the internet about this. Hope this helps.
Regards,
George

I always wondered what the castle looked like
I actually lived in the house on Ferry Road closest to the where the castle stood and visited and played at the site when i was a small boy..A friend of mine and myself went there yesterday for a visit 11/14/10

There are pictures of the castle in the book “Moulton Annals” written by Henry Moulton and completed by his daughter. There is a copy of the book at the Newburyport Historical Society. The book talks at length about the castle and grounds. Bill Moulton

I love Maudsley and was looking for pics when I found your blog. Thanks to William Moulton, who posted above, I did a search for “Moulton Annals” and found the entire book online which can be viewed with photographs here: http://www.archive.org/stream/moultonannals00moul#page/n479/mode/2up In case that link doesn’t work, the page number where the first photo of the castle appears is page 405. There are two photographs of the castle.
This is the text referring to Moulton Castle:
“Moulton Hill, Newburyport, Mass., has been the home of eight generations of Moultons, William 2nd having built his house at the foot of the hill where, more than two hundred years later, his descendants were living.
In 1866 Capt. Henry W. Moulton of Newburyport came into possession of this estate, which already for six generations had been held by different branches of the Moulton family. Here he erected the noble and picturesque building – which, from its Gothic architecture, became known for miles around as “Moultan Castle.” Sir Edw. Thornton, the British minister, passed four summers here with his family and retinue of servants, during Mr. Moulton’s absence in Idaho, where he served as U. S. Marshal. The view from the summit of the hill is very beautiful and extensive, including at least fourteen different towns and villages. No lovelier prospect can be found in all New England and, indeed, many who have traveled extensively in both the old and the new world, claim never to have seen a landscape more beautiful.
Here the author of this volume passed many happy hours, enjoying the loveliness of nature and dreaming of the vanished Moultons who had lived and moved on this same spot in other days. Here, at the very summit of the house, in a lofty chamber called facetiously “the high room,” the present volume of “Moulton Annals” sprang into being. Surrounded by his beloved books and the portraits of the friends he held most dear, Mr. Moulton delighted to occupy his leisure hours, which were all too rare, in literary pursuits, no subject being more congenial than his lineage.
History repeats itself, and like the last Sir Thomas of Gilsland, Mr. Moulton left no son to assume his name and estate. A few months previous to the death of Mr. Moulton, in 1896, Moulton Hill passed out of the family.”

<p>There is a stereoview of Moulton Castle out there. (I&rsquo;d attach a copy of the image, but I don&rsquo;t know how to get it into this blog posting!) Also, the same year that Moulton Castle was built, another castle was built near Deer Island called Hawkswood. It was built by Rev. J.C. Fletcher. I obtained the photographs, personal letters and other items of one of Newburyport&rsquo;s first photo journalists: Philip Coombs.</p>
<p>He used the wet plate process, and spoke of a good day in which he made 3 successful negatives! Outdoor photographs were so novel in 1861 that quite a few of his images (actually taken in 3D stereo) were newsworthy events written about in the local newspaper. All of Philip&rsquo;s photographs were taken in 1861, and provide a fascinating insight into life leading up to the Civil War. He was friends with J.C. Fletcher and John G. Whittier..</p>
<p>I&rsquo;ve written a book that tells Philip&rsquo;s story &ndash; just need to find a publisher for it. Anyone know one? The title of the book is: &ldquo;1861: A Newburyport Photographer Captures The Time, The People &ndash; and Even EMILY DICKINSON&rsquo;s TERROR&rdquo;.</p>

I realize this is an old post, regardless thanks Andrew for the photos of the book. When we moved to the area 26 years ago my wifes grandfather told us about the Castle where his mother was born. We’ve since learned more of the Moulton family and Capt. Henry a civil war captain and Newburyport and Beacon Hill real estate developer. And we now have the same photo as above in our livingroom. Very cool, thanks.

I have a relative, Nathan Moulton in my family. In fact my grandfather's mother was Annie Celestia Moulton and I have a picture of her with my grandfather. Is there anything in a library that can give me furthur information. My grandfather's name was Lester Spear and they lived in Lynn, MA.
Thanks. Suzanne Lacey (suzelacey@yahoo.com)

Hello Moultons!
My Grandmother Amy Moulton Lee from Nova Scotia was born shortly before the "Moulton Annals" was published.
I live in Lexington, MA, I have been to the castle on many occasions, playing saxophone for many weddings and events.
Whaddya know!
What I do know is that the Moultons were a very important family in New England. Great work

I've been doing research on my family and have found out quiet a bit on The Molton,Moulton Family.Have found missing Family members?Please contact me at lestermolton@yahoo.com I will share what I've found?

The recently published book The Secret History of Wonder Woman by Harvard historian, Jill Lepore, talks about Moulton Castle in her first chapter. William Moulton Marston was the original author of the Wonder Woman comic books in the 1940s. He was also the grandson of the man who built Moulton Castle and spent many Sundays there as a child with his 4 aunts and his maternal grandfather. He had an intriguing life which Lepore explores and it gives a whole overlay of drama to the Moulton Castle! Wish the castle were still there.

Here is a link to a lithograph of Moulton Castle on Moulton Hill in the archives at Salem State University. http://digitalcommons.salemstate.edu/essex_lithographs/14/ Incidentally, there is also a Moulton Hill in Ascot, Quebec which was the site of the farm residence of Calvin Moulton, who moved there for a time with his family. It is now the site of Bishop's College.

Hello Andrew, I am hoping you are still responding to this site. I am a Moulton descendant and was so intrigued when I came across your website last year. My grandmother was Alma Moulton and from Parsonsfield, ME. I have researched the "History of Parsonsfield" book at the local library and my ancestors are linked to William Moulton who landed at Newburyport in 1637. His youngest son, William built a house on Moulton Hill in Newbury in 1683. Descendants occupied this house for many, many years. I would love to hear from you.

I am the 8th generation of the Moultons of the Boston area. I live in Austin Texas and plan to visit Boston this summer 2015. Anyone out there related to me through William Moulton, silversmith in the 1700s ?

Oh, I suspect you'll find many people up here.
(BTW: I have few pieces of William Moulton's Coin Silver spoons. I've also sat in the original, tiny shack used to make shoe buckles back in the 17th century. It's since been torn down, but I know it well. I metal detect all around the property, hoping to find something from that era)

We live at 346 High in Newburyport, which according to the National Register District was originally built in 1780 and is the Moulton-Learned House. It's a grand old Georgian whose most important historical features have thankfully survived the years.
If anyone has any information about which Moultons built our house we'd greatly appreciate hearing them. Thanks.

I am just starting out on this journey with family research and I am related to the Moulton family through Thomas Moulton 1513 - 1587. I just discovered this information through the Moulton Annals on file with the Library of Congress. Would any of you who have information in any form (including photos) be willing to share what information you do have with me? It is greatly appreciated. Many thanks in advance. dani.elwood110784@gmail.com